
Class TS^5 2-3 

Book L._A3i 



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iSiP 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



POEMS 



By 
S. WIRT LA LANCE 



The McLean Company 
Baltimore 
1915 






COPYRIGHT, 1915. 

BY 

S. Wirt La Lance 



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CIA418550 



DEDICATION. 

To the memory of the companion of my 
childhood, the friend in my every need, my 
Grandmother, I dedicate these verses. 

S. Wirt La Lance. 



FOREWORD. 

I wish you to believe that the verses herein contained 
were not written for any commercial purpose. My 
vocation in life has not been that of a writer, but of an 
artist. During my past life as an artist or rather a 
student, there have been experiences that only can be 
expressed in words. Such experiences come not only in 
the life of these who pursue the arts but you too, have 
probably experienced the same emotions; the anticipa- 
tion of the outcome of a project, the joy at its success 
or the sorrow at its failure. I will be free with you and 
tell you that my life has not been an easy and common- 
place one. Born with an uncontrollable desire to see 
and know things, I have been led into many paths of 
life. In these paths I have not only seen but experienced 
many, many joys, but have also come in contact with 
great sorrows and the bitter anguish of remorse. I 
allowed these to permeate my being and in the quiet 
hours of night I would sit in my little studio and find 
solace in writing. 

As I have said, these verses were not written for a 
commercial purpose, nor are they being published for 
any such purpose. It is in hopes that some heart which 
is, as mine has been, in doubt, in hope or in sorrow, may 
be benefited by that which I have written. 

S. Wirt La Lance. 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The Rose; oif Life; 6 

The Lips You've Pressed 8 

The Winds of Life 9 

Life's Sunset 10 

All for a Man 12 

Had We But Known 13 

Mother 14 

Spent 15 

You 16 

I'll Let You Know 17 

Lois-Elaine 18 

Elaine - 19 

Heart's Ease 20 

The Lands Across the Seas 21 

The Soul of the Rose 23 

The Two Loves 24 



THE ROSE OF LIFE. 



While wand'ring thru a valley 

I came upon a glen, 
And found a million beauties, 

Ne'er touched by brush or pen. 

Within this dale of beauty 
I found a queenly throne — 

A rose upon a rosebush, 
Just one and all alone. 

I knelt beneath this beauty, 
Inhaled the fragrant air, 

And swore that ne'er a rose 
Was even half so fair. 

I raised my eyes to Heaven 
And thanked the God above. 

While swaying in the breeze. 
The rose sang tales of love. 

For hours I sat in silence 
And loved this rose of mine ; 

Yea, loved the smallest petal 
As tho' a thing divine. 



One day from out the north 
A wind caught in my rose. 

And swayed it over towards me— 
Ah, swayed a bit to close. 

Nigh mad with adoration, 

I clutched the charming thing, 

And would have crushed it to me 
But death had lent its sting. 

The petals drooped and fell away- 
The winds began to mourn. 

The leaves, alas, were parted, 
Disclosing, stem and THORN. 



THE UPS YOU'VE PRESSED. 



When twilight hour of life, as day, 
Is turned from gold to silver gray, 
Then future fades and present seems 
The past made new, in cherished dreams. 

When songbirds cease their parting trill 
And night comes on, so cold and still, 
Then mem'ry comes, life's nightingale, 
To soothe the heart, tho' all else fail. 

And in these dreams that come at last, 
There's one that stands out from the past; 
A dream that fills your soul with yearning, 
And yea, e'en sets the old heart burning. 

A maid you knew once, long ago. 
Takes hold your tho'ts, nor will let go. 
A girl you loved with all your heart, 
From whom some Fate has made you part. 

Again you see her smiling face 

And hold her close in love's embrace; 

Again your lips in passion meet ; 

Ah, dreams, and truths, life's bitter-sweet. 



8 



Twas but a dream, you say, and yet 

It is one dream you ne'er forget, 

For lips you've pressed in love's embrace 

Are memory's own, to ne'er erase. 



THE WINDS OF LIFE. 



Do not curse the winds of life 

That cruelly tear down 
The dreams you've built with fondest hope 

And wished success to crown. 

Stoop and build them up again, 

They're stronger if you do. 
For then you know their weaknesses, 

The next ones should hold true. 

If the next ones fall down, then 
Just keep your nerve and smile ; 

And some day you will do something 
That really is worth while. 



LIFE'S SUNSET. 



Ah, soon will come the evening glow, 
And then the sexton's spade. 

There is a time, the close of day, 
When life on earth must fade. 

Yea, soon will come the touch of death 

To sever mortal bond; 
To answer then that question, 

"Oh, what doth lie beyond?" 

Incased in flesh, and bone, and blood, 

I am, I know not what. 
Are things I see, and know to be, 

In endless dreams forgot? 

When blood is stilled and flesh decays, 
And bones are turned to dust, 

Oh, where am I who speaketh now? 
Am I that withering crust? 

Oh, who can see what lies beyond. 
Can tell where lies the way? 

Ah, those who say they know, do not. 
Who know — they cannot say. 



10 



What man or men of mortal flesh 
Can make the earth revolve? 

Did life we have at present age, 
From jellyfish evolve? 

When I have passed beyond the line, 

Will it be right to say, 
"His life is naught but memory, 

And he was naught but clay ? 

I cannot say what lies beyond 
Life's last or parting glow, 

But feel, and hold that precious tho't, 
The faith that I shall know. 



11 



ALL FOR A MAN. 



A touch of rouge, a beauty spot ; 
A penciled brow, and why not ? 
'Tis for a man. 

A jaunty hat, a bunch of bows, 
A slight expanse of silken hose. 
Ah! Blind? Poor man. 

A dainty room with one settee; 
Space for two (?) never three. 
Just and a man. 

A side-long glance thru drooping lids; 
A kiss for the first young fool who bids, 
Still, he's a man. 

A studied pose, a dreamy eye; 

A quick embrace and lingering sigh. 

God save the man! 

And man? " Till death doth part." 
Dyspeptics yield to French chef's art. 
A fool or man ? 

We cannot say, you and I, 
We're lookers-on, just passers-by. 
Beware! We're men. 



12 



HAD WE BUT KNOWN. 



Had we but known those trials, those sorrows, 
That with todays and with tomorrows 
Come sneaking on and quickly borrows 
That brightened brow, to leave its harrows. 

Comes sneaking on us, ever stealing. 
To creep away and leave us feeling 
Distraught and tired, yea, bent and kneeling, 
Unto our God, at last appealing. 

Would we have from that bright path wandered 
And all those youthful treasures squandered, 
Or in those darkened by-ways sauntered, 
Had we but stopped and slightly pondered? 

Would we have to the wild winds thrown 
The things God gave, and dear to own, 
Nor called them back, ere they had flown 
So far away — had we but known. 



13 



MOTHER. 



Ah, when those eyes were filled with tears, 
Away back in those childish years, 
Who softly crooned in baby's ears? 
Mother did. 

Or when from fights, so long and hard, 
The little face all battle-scarred. 
Who wiped away the blood that marred ? 
Mother did. 

And when the youth set out to learn 
The ways of life, so cold and stern. 
What soul then longed for his return ? 
Mother's did. 

And when the sun of life was low, 
Wlio passed beyond the golden glow? 
That gentle smile will let you know 
Mother did. 



14 



SPENT. 



Ah, give to me those times of old, 
Those quaint, old-fashioned ways. 

Take away this hour so cold 
And give me youthful days. 

Yea, give me back those dreams of old, 

Those castles built in air. 
Oh give me back the life I sold 

For days I thot were fair. 

Oh let me see the folks of old. 
Those gentle souls so pure. 

Please tell again the tales they told, 
These days I can't endure. 

Ah, give to me the life of old 
Ere falls death's stilling dew. 

Just let me from better mould 
A life that's strong and true. 



15 



YOU. 



No matter where I wander, 

No matter what I do, 
It seems that all the world 

Is calling me to you. 

I see a field of wild flowers, 
Just kissed by morning's dew 

And all their dainty sweetness 
Reminds me, dear, of you. 

I stand upon the highway 

And faces old and new, 
All seem to me as smiling 

And smiling, dear, means you. 

I watch the wond'rous sunset 
Or rainbow's brilliant hue. 

And e'en at night it seems, dear, 
The moonbeams talk of you. 

I hear a strain of music 
And each note rings out true. 

The sounds to me are sweet, for 
The keynote, dear, is you. 



16 



Ah, everything is charming 
'Neath Heaven's top of blue ; 

The world to me is beautiful — 
The world to me is — you. 



I'LL LET YOU KNOW. 



I'll let you know 
I am not what I was on yesterday, 

For yesterday is passed. 
I can say what I am today. 

As long as day will last. 
I will be — how I wonder what I shall be. 

Will future give me sorrow? 
I cannot say as yet today, 

Just wait until tomorrow, 
I'll let you know. 



17 



LOIS-ELAINE. 



I lived in a wonderful dreamland, 
And gardens of roses were there. 

I lived with a beautiful Princess 
Alone in a castle of air. 

For years I remained with this Princess, 
Alone in the land of my dreams. 

We danced with the song of the wildbird 
And slept by the lull of the streams. 

One day while I wandered in dreamland 
I woke and I only could stare, 

For sitting there closely beside me — 
A maiden unusually fair. 

I know that the kind Fates were angry. 

They mocked me to scorn it would seem. 
The beauty that sat there beside me 

Was fairer than mortal could dream. 

Ah, now if the Fates will be kinder 

And let not my life be in vain, 
They*ll give me this wonderful maiden — 

The beautiful Lois-Elaine. 



18 



ELAINE, 



Since I have gazed upon your face 

That's all I see, it seems. 
Those great big eyes are with me now 

In ev'ry one my dreams. 

Those gentle lips are sometimes sad, 

But mostly bear a smile. 
'Tis thots of one as pure as you 

That make men's lives worth while. 

The deepest shadows in my room 

I hardly think compare 
With those tones that top your head 

That wond'rous jet-black hair. 

I wonder if I e'er may touch 
Those gentle, sad-sweet lips — 

Nay, I fear I am not worthy 
For e'en the finger tips. 

Or gaze into that loving soul 

Those limpid eyes enshrine 
And claim the love that's shining thru, 

Alone — forever — mine. 



19 



HEART'S EASE. 



There's something down in my heart, dear. 

It's twistin' and wranglin' about. 
Don't you think you can guess what it is, dear? 

Won't you try an' figure it out? 

It started when I saw you first, dear; 

I've been framing it up each day; 
But somehow I can't seem to tell you. 

It's funny it acts that way. 

Say, please, can't you help me out, dear; 

Can't you give me a little start? 
Wait! NOW I have it— I LOVE YOU! 

I love you with all my heart. 



20 



THE LANDS ACROSS THE SEA. 



Ah my heart is ever burning 
And my soul is ever yearning, 
Burning-burning-burning, 
Yearning-yearning-yearning, 
For some one to pilot me 
To the Lands across the Sea. 

Ah my heart is ever breaking 
And my soul is ever aching, 

Breaking-breaking-breaking, 

Aching-aching-aching 
For the things that ne'er can be, 
From the chains that 'compass me. 

Stranded-marooned — a lonely isle, 
Watching, waiting, and the while 
There's the burning-burning. 
And the yearning-yearning 
For some light to pilot me 
To the Lands across the Sea. 



21 



Blow winds, blow your very best 
Beat the raging in my breast 

Burning-burning-burning, 

Yearning-yearning-yearning, 
For some soul to pilot me 
To the Lands across the Sea. 

Oft' I see some white ship sailing 
But they never heed my hailing ; 

Leave me hailing-hailing 

While they're sailing-sailing. 
Will no ship e'er pilot me 
To the Lands across the Sea ? 

Break ! Oh break ! Oh mortal chain. 
Free me from this life, so vain. 
Send some soul to pilot me, 
Oh thou Who art across the Sea, 
Rest my soul so vainly aching — 
Soothe this heart that chains are breaking- 
Guide me o'er that misty Sea, 
Let Thy Lands encompass me. 



22 



THE SOUL OF THE ROSE. 



Ah, see the rose, it fades and blows, 

But can you say it dies? 
It's perfume rare will fill the air 

And linger tho' life flies. 
It's fragrant air will linger there 

'Till caught in some sweet nose 
And when above it takes its love, 

So, too, will go the rose. 



THE TWO LOVES. 



The love of the flesh will wither, 

As withers the dying rose 
And each day it fades in fondness 

As each day it older grows. 

The love of the soul is stronger 
As each day or year goes by. 

The soul in its life is ne'er ending, 
And its love can never die. 



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